In their first-ever game at Level 6, in Regional 2 Thames, Ealing Trailfinders 1871 came away with the spoils after a pulsating contest that featured some excellent rugby by both sides, particularly in defence, as well as two yellow cards for hosts Teddington and a total of five for Ealing, including two for inside centre George Emmerson, both for dangerous tackles, which resulted in the referee brandishing a red card. Despite periods of playing with 14 and, for a time, 13 men, Ealing stuck to their processes and eked out a win in a game that, despite the number of cards issued, was played in a positive spirit.

With the start of the league season delayed for two weeks by the summer drought, the pitch at the picturesque Teddington ground on the edge of Bushy Park had some grass cover but posed challenges with a very hard and dusty surface. In warm sunshine, 1871 went straight onto the attack from the kick-off. Flanker Gereint Price stole a line-out, fly half Harry Vidler kicked downfield and the home full-back was hunted down after catching the ball. Ealing’s early ascendancy was rewarded after 6 minutes with a debut score for new prop Ade Owalabi. Vidler converted on a day when successful and missed kicks for both teams ultimately made the difference. It took only three minutes for Teddington to equalise with a well-worked try on the left wing after Ealing had gone down to 14 following a tackle offence by Owalabi, with the conversion successful. The hosts moved into a 14-7 lead with a second try on the left wing, but avoided conceding a second try only thanks to a cynical off-the-ball tackle on captain Lewis Steadman as he kicked through with no defender left to prevent a potential score, resulting in a yellow card. Vidler’s kick for goal was uncharacteristically wide of the mark. However, Ealing’s second try followed soon afterwards. Front-row replacement Jonathan Oh collected an overthrown Teddington lineout and launched an attack involving both backs and forwards before prop Leo Codrington-Lambert finished off from short range. In a crucial final five minutes of the first half, Codrington-Lambert was dispatched to the sin bin for 10 minutes for making head contact in a tackle, and Teddington took full advantage with two dominant penalty scrums, the second of which enabled the Antlers’ outside centre to cut inside and score under the posts. With the interval approaching, Vilder reduced the deficit with a penalty, and the energetic Oh touched down from a training-ground penalty lineout catch and drive. The conversion attempt from wide on the right was unsuccessful, but Ealing held a narrow 22-19 lead at the break.

The second period started badly for Ealing with the Ealing forwards offside at the kick-off and Emmerson shown a yellow for a dominant but illegal tackle beyond the horizontal from the resulting scrum. Vidler’s penalty attempt 5 minutes later was wide of the left upright, but he made up for the miss after a period of forward dominance with a smartly taken drop goal to put his team 25-19 to the good. This lead looked increasingly precarious when replacement hooker Jack Feeney took a team yellow for repeated offences in his team’s 22 metre area and Emmerson received a second yellow for a repeat of his previous offence, so that he would play no further part in the game. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Vidler stroked over a penalty to leave Ealing well placed at 28-19. A nail-biting finish came into view when the Antlers secured their fourth try, once again on the left. The conversion left the game poised at 28-26 and disaster nearly struck for Ealing who, after looking to see out the game in the opposition 22, ceded possession when a second attempted drop goal hit the upright. Teddington broke quickly and forced a kickable penalty half-way out on the left on the 22 metre line. To the visitors’ immense relief the kick struck the outside of the left upright.

With three tries, Ealing picked up four league points, while Teddington gained two for a narrow defeat and three tries. Coach Phil Smith was delighted with the effort put in by his team, and gave his man of the match award unusually to a player who started on the bench, Jonathan Oh, while flanker Archie Baxter and captain Lewis Steadman also received special mentions, although the full squad of 18 all played a crucial part in achieving 1871’s first win at this level.  It is to be hoped that scrum half Richard Rhydderch Roberts will be able to return to the fray soon, after suffering a hamstring injury in the first half which necessitated moving Pen Pettigrew from full back to play a crucial role at the base of the scrum.

Ealing 1871 head west to Aylesbury for their second league game on Saturday 3 October before a first home game at this level against Beaconsfield on Friday 9 October.

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